Starting in January: Automatic Migration to the New Outlook for Business Users – Avoid Surprises

Classic naar nieuw Outlook

Business users with Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium licenses currently working in the classic Outlook client will be automatically converted to the new Outlook client starting January 2025. For all other subscriptions, this transition is scheduled to begin in April 2026.

New Outlook timeline from Opt-in to End of Life

Impact

Switching from the classic client to the new version of Outlook can have significant consequences when using, among other things:

  • COM add-ins
  • Multiple email profiles
  • VBA macros
  • VDI Support
  • SharePoint calendar sync

These features will no longer be supported after the migration. See here for a comprehensive comparison between the two versions.

Opt-out capabilities

It is possible to prevent the automatic transition to the new Outlook client are described here , below are the briefly named:

  1. Manually via Outlook settings:
    Go to:
    File > Options > General > New Outlook Options and uncheck ‘Automatically switch to new Outlook’.
  2. Through the Windows registry:
    • Disable automatic migration:[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office6 .0\outlook\preferences]
      “NewOutlookMigrationUserSetting”=dword:00000000
    • Enable automatic migration:[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office6 .0\outlook\preferences]
      “NewOutlookMigrationUserSetting”=dword:00000001
  3. Via Group Policy:
    Navigate to:
    Microsoft Outlook 2016/Outlook Options/Other > Admin-Controlled Migration to New Outlook

      Pros and cons of the new Outlook client

      While some features may no longer work in the new version, these features may not be relevant to the organization. This may mean that the new features can be fully utilized.

      Benefits of the new Outlook client:

      1. Modern and simplified design:
        The new Outlook has a streamlined interface with fewer visual distractions, designed for ease of use.
      2. Integration with cloud-based services:
        Seamless integration with OneDrive, Teams and To Do, which is especially useful for Microsoft 365 users.
      3. Speed improvements:
        The new Outlook works faster and more efficiently, especially when opening emails and attachments.
      4. Microsoft Copilot Support:
        Access the latest features, including support for Microsoft Copilot.
      5. Consistent experience across platforms:
        The new Outlook provides a unified experience across web, Windows and mobile devices.

      Disadvantages of the new Outlook client:

      1. Limited offline functionality:
        The new Outlook offers fewer features without an Internet connection compared to the classic version.
      2. Less customizable options:
        The new version offers limited personalization options, which some users may find a drawback.
      3. Not all features supported:
        Features such as custom forms and extended offline support are not available in the new client.
      4. Support for non-Microsoft accounts:
        The new Outlook does not yet support all features for non-Microsoft accounts.

      Conclusion

      The new Outlook client offers many advantages, including a modern design, improved performance and better integration with Microsoft services. However, for organizations that rely heavily on specific features such as COM add-ins and VBA macros, the transition may present challenges. It is therefore essential to assess whether the new features outweigh the loss of certain classic functionality.